Researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center have developed a new urine-based test, MyProstateScore2.0 (MPS2), to address the challenge of distinguishing between slow-growing and aggressive forms of prostate cancer. The test looks at 18 different genes associated with high-grade prostate cancer and has shown success in identifying cancers classified as Gleason 3+4=7 or Grade Group 2 (GG2) and higher, which are more likely to grow and spread. This is a significant advancement considering that more than one-third of prostate cancer diagnoses are low-grade forms that are unlikely to cause harm.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has long been the mainstay of prostate cancer detection, but MPS2 improves upon previous urine-based tests by detecting high-grade or clinically significant prostate cancer more accurately. The development of MPS2 builds upon the original MPS test that looked at PSA, TMPRSS2::ERG gene fusion, and PCA3. By utilizing RNA sequencing and analyzing over 58,000 genes, researchers identified 18 markers that consistently correlated with higher-grade disease. This enhanced test includes the original MPS markers along with 16 additional biomarkers to improve its ability to identify aggressive prostate cancers.
The effectiveness of MPS2 was confirmed through testing on over 800 urine samples and comparing the results with patient records on the National Cancer Institute’s Early Detection Research Network. The test was found to be nearly 100% accurate at ruling out GG1 cancer, indicating that a negative result on MPS2 can confidently rule out aggressive prostate cancer. Moreover, MPS2 was more successful at helping patients avoid unnecessary biopsies, potentially avoiding up to 41% of unnecessary biopsies compared to PSA testing alone.
Patients who have had previous biopsies and are being considered for another biopsy stand to benefit from MPS2, as the test can identify half of those individuals whose repeat biopsy would be negative. This reduces the need for unnecessary biopsies and provides practical alternatives for patients who may be hesitant to undergo additional procedures. MPS2 is currently available through LynxDx, a University of Michigan spin-off company, which has an exclusive license to commercialize the test. Patients interested in learning more about MPS2 can contact the Michigan Medicine Cancer AnswerLine.
The study, published in JAMA Oncology, showcases the collaborative effort of researchers in developing and validating MPS2 as a more accurate urine-based test for identifying aggressive prostate cancer. The team, led by co-senior authors John T. Wei and Arul M. Chinnaiyan, utilized advanced genomic techniques to enhance the test’s ability to distinguish between low-grade and high-grade prostate cancers. The research was funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, American Cancer Society, among others.
The development of MPS2 represents a significant advancement in prostate cancer detection, offering a more accurate and non-invasive alternative to traditional methods. By leveraging genomic data and analyzing gene expression patterns, the test has shown promise in accurately identifying aggressive prostate cancers while reducing unnecessary biopsies for patients. Moving forward, MPS2 has the potential to improve clinical outcomes for men with prostate cancer by guiding treatment decisions based on the aggressiveness of the disease.
